“It’s important for the kids to realize that someone knows what they went through and are going through,” Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury, the presenter and forever the biggest supporter of the Poetry Slam, said. “I understand -- and I’m feeling it as well. I understand them as people, understand where they come from, and I understand where they are trying to go.”

“An avenue such as this to express yourself allows other people to ‘get it’,” added Marbury. “And, especially when you are young, communication and being listened to is a very big thing. So it’s impossible to overestimate how essential this event is.”

Indeed, in their open display of anxiety, gearing up, and out-loud-rehearsing, the areas around the five audition booths were reminiscent of “American Idol” -- except these young people were concerned about far more than just their own success. The young poets’ main themes were war, racism, sweat shops, discrimination and injustice of any kind in society -- along with, of course, love.

“The kids are really self-disclosing, displaying their spirit, and are being very vulnerable,” “Vision Warrior” Scott Anthony Robinson, a judge and an outstanding poet himself who has worked on the Slams for years, said. “It’s been very beautiful.” Each booth had three judges, with the poets rated 1-5 on categories such as writing, performance, originality, sincerity, and inspiration.

A very sincere Mayra Reyes was inspired by love. “I’m going to love you like no one ever had,” she practically sang out. “I’m going be your last, the reason that you smile. I’m gonna’ love you surreptitiously and publicly, and any way you see.” On the other hand, Lena Page’s “Get Serious” was about society’s need to do just that. “Get serious, teens jut went into a dive while parents are leaving babies to go to the block and find drugs to buy. Get serious, kids imitating videos and rap songs while class and the books are where they really belong,” she rhymed.

Her performance was “a little raw” but the sincerity and inspiration were amazing, according to the judges.

Diamante Culver emotionally described life in the streets. “More stress, worrying and crying, but one thing remains, people are still dying.” Michelle Foster’s “In the Eyes of a Slave” was an even more heartrending picture: “Battered, bruised and bloodied but still trying to be brave, this I how it’s seen through the eyes of a slave.”

While nearly 400 kids auditioned at one part of the beyond-buzzing Madison Square Garden Expo Center, past Poetry Slam winners, and other experienced perfomers from producing partner Urban Word NYC, entertained the crowd on the other end. In-between, there was a College Expo going on with over 30 schools attempting to create a connection with future students. “We have a very large New York community on campus,” Barnard College Alumni Admission Representative Sandra Will said. “And we are always looking to attract greater diversity. We felt that this event is a great way to reach out to students who otherwise might not know or think about Barnard.”

“And I’d like to say that we have a fantastic creative writing program as well,” added Will. “The talent here is remarkable.”

The talent on the stage became ever more remarkable as dance troops “Pink Diamond Step Team” and the totally awesome “Motion Sickness” performed. “I just decided I’m going to learn break-dancing,” an impressed DJ Hill quipped after “Sickness” brought the house to a fine frenzy.

“New Rap Order” then got everybody in the audience moving, followed by the utterly irresistible Knicks City Kids. Their superb “Everybody Dance Now”, and eight-year old Freddy’s spectacular tumbling, drove the crowd pretty much bat-nuts.

“My game was always defined by heart,” Knicks legend John Starks told the hundreds of fans in attendance. “But what I’m seeing and hearing here today could teach ME something about heart.” To a question from the audience “What gave you the determination to succeed?” a smiling Starks simply replied “Hunger. It still helps me till this day. It made me tougher. It makes me not ever want to quit in anything I attempt.”

“Success is in all of you. Just make sure you take advantage of your opportunities. Make sure that, no matter what happens, you continue going on and keep trying.”